Peak monument reaches heights

Historic structure repaired by crafts man

ENVIRONMENT: A drystone waller has repaired a stone shelter at the summit of a Dales peak that was built as a tribute to the newly- crowned Queen.

Ingleborough’s famous beacon shelter was built by hand by the Ingleton Fell Rescue Team as a way of marking the historic Coronation nearly 70 years ago.

A DRYSTONE waller has repaired a stone shelter at the summit of the Yorkshire Dales’ secondhighest mountain that was built in 1953 as a tribute to the newlycrowned Queen.

Ingleborough’s beacon shelter – which has a fascinating ‘ toposcope’ depicting the distances to Scafell Pike and Pendle Hill – was built by hand by the Ingleton Fell Rescue Team as a way of marking the historic Coronation nearly 70 years ago.

They carried stone up the mountain in their backpacks and hauled building materials with Ferguson tractors.

The idea to build the shelter and light a beacon on Coronation Day came from Ingleton garage owner Reg Hainsworth, who was also a Ferguson dealer and a fell rescue volunteer.

The structure has provided much- needed protection from the winds for walkers at the summit, but had become worn and

the toposcope unreadable. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority arranged for expert repairs to be undertaken using National Lottery Heritage Fund grants – and this time the stone and cement were dropped on to the mountainside by helicopter.

All four walls were rebuilt by master craftsman Laurie Lambeth, a specialist stonework contractor, and the flagstone seats were replaced. A new bronze toposcope was also installed.

Bill Hinde, now 84, was one of the original volunteer builders and shared his memories of some of the primitive methods employed by the team.

He said: “Reg, having the local dealership for Ferguson tractors, had access to the appropriate vehicles and he knew all the local farmers, which was invaluable in getting building materials up Cod Bank onto Little Ingleborough.

“Most was moved by hand up the final steep slope, but on occasions a Fergie with a link box made a suicidal trip up the rake, the final part of the current footpath from Gaping Gill to the summit.

“There were many logistical problems, various vehicles getting stuck, some for many days including Reg’s breakdown truck. The most assured way of moving small quantities was in your rucksack, but building tools and materials become heavier the further you carry them.”